iOS 16.4, iPadOS 16.4 and macOS 13.3 were released today with several new features for Apple’s Podcasts app on iPhone, iPad, Mac and CarPlay.
First, a new Channels menu in the Podcasts app provides a list of podcast channels in one place on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. A channel allows a creator or brand to list all their podcasts in one place, making it easy for listeners to discover.
Second, the Up Next queue now includes episodes listeners have saved to their library and episodes they’re playing from shows they don’t follow:
For example, if a listener plays an episode of a show before deciding to follow it, that episode will now remain in Up Next until the listener plays it, marks it as played, or deletes it. New episodes from followed shows and recently saved episodes appear at the top of the Up Next queue, while episodes listeners have started and older saved episodes appear towards the end. The latest episodes of recently watched shows appear at the beginning of Up Next. Episodes categorized with a “bonus” episode type will also appear in Up Next.
Users also have more tools to manage Up Next. For example, they can touch and hold a show’s artwork to remove it from the queue.
Third, users can now see how many unplayed episodes are available to them at the top of each show page, identify “early access” subscriber episodes that are being made available to them as part of their Apple Podcasts subscriptions, and more.
Fourth, iOS 16.4 includes improvements to the Podcasts app for CarPlay, including access to the Up Next and Recently Played queues via Listen Now in CarPlay. And in the Browse tab, there are now editorial recommendations for podcasts.
More details can be found in the “What’s new for Apple Podcasts” post on Apple’s website.
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